I'm thinking that a computer-grade board will not lift traces or break/crack as easily as one made of brown phenolic. Yays or nays on this?
Nay !
Computer grade PCBA's weren't needed at this level of design.
Upgrade robustness and repair-ability didn't necessitate boards of that caliber.
They were made to stringent performance specs (the true Elevated pieces that is...)
and made to last. And quite frankly,they
love (last)
you long time.
Keep in mind too that ES components had many sub-assemblies hand built.
The brown phenolic boards were just fine for the intended purpose.
Pick up a dead ES component of one type or another, CDP - tape deck, whatever.
Tear into it and get back to us on how poorly constructed it is.
Hands on like ...